Chinese and Chinese Heritage
in Children's and YA Books

This bibliography features Chinese and Chinese American literature for
children. If you have any suggestions of books or related resources to
include, please let us
know.

THE AGENCY: A SPY IN THE HOUSE by Y.S. Lee (Candlewick, 2010). At age eleven, in 1850s London, orphan (and thief) Mary Quinn was rescued from the gallows by agents of Miss Scrimshaw's Academy for Girls. For the next six years, she studied all that was expected of a proper Victorian lady (and more).

And now, at seventeen, she's invited to join The Agency, a secret organization of women investigators whose mandate is to assist Scotland Yard. Mary's first assignment is as paid companion to the spoiled daughter of a wealthy merchant who is suspected of insurance fraud and smuggling. But along the way, she encounters secret upon secret and no one is what they appear...

Exciting, full of verve, and with a hint of romance, A SPY IN THE HOUSE offers a terrific protagonist and a fun mystery as it explores Victorian London and traditional and nontraditional roles of both men and women therein. With her background in Victorian literature and culture, Y.S. Lee provides texture and pungency without overshadowing the characters or plots.

THE AMAH by Laurence Yep (Putnam, 1999). Amy Chin is a dedicated young ballerina forced to sacrifice her dancing to care for her young siblings when her mother is hired as an amah (nanny). Stephanie, her mother's charge, seems to be taking everything away and, at the same time, embarassing Amy with extravagant gifts. Ages 8-up.

APPLE PIE 4TH OF JULY by Janet S. Wong, illustrated
by Margaret Chodos-Irvine (Harcourt, 2002). A young girl whose parents
own a Chinese restaurant ponders the appropriateness of Chinese food versus
Apple Pie on the 4th of July. Ages 4-up.

AT THE BEACH by Huy Voun Lee (Henry Holt, 1994). Xiao Ming learns to write Chinese (Mandarin) by writing in the sand and
comparing the characters to various sights around her. An American Bookseller
Pick of the Lists. Ages 4-up.

COOLIES by Yin, illustrated by Chris Soentpiet (Philomel,
2001). Framed as a family story, this exquisitely illustrated picture
book tells of the Chinese immigrants who helped build a great railroad across
the western United States.

The story does not romanticize the conditions
or treatment the workers endured, but it does celebrate their bravery, tenacity,
and accomplishments. Recommended for curriculum. Ages 5-up.

EARTHQUAKE by Milly Lee, illustrated by Yangsook
Choi (Frances Foster Books/Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2001). A Chinese
American girl tells the story of her family during fallout from the San
Francisco earthquake of 1906. Based on a real family story. Excellent author's
note. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. for curriculum, especially to U.S. West Coast
schools. Ages 4-up.

EL CHINO by Allen Say (Houghton Mifflin, 1990). An inspiring picture book biography of Bon Way "Billy" Wong, the first Chinese
American bullfighter—a young man raised in Arizona who found his dream
in Spain. Ages 4-up. More on this title from Cynsations.

GRANDFATHER COUNTS by Andrea Cheng, illustrated
by Ange Zhang (Lee & Low, 2000). When Gong Gong (grandfather)
first comes to live with Helen, she feels distanced by his inability to
speak English and her inability to speak Chinese. Then, watching a train
together, they begin to teach each other how to count the cars, Helen in
English and Gong Gong in Chinese. In time, the two begin to bond as grandparent
to child. A realistic, warm book that is not overly sentimental. Helen's
family is Asian and European-American, but no issue is made of this. Ages
4-up.

HANNAH IS MY NAME by Belle Yang (Candlewick, 2004). Hannah and her family are so excited to immigrate to the United States,
to become Americans, to be free. But how scary and worrisome it is to wait
to see if they will be sent green cards so they may stay legally and make
San Francisco their home. Joyful, vibrant, and optimistic without minimizing
the challenges faced by newcomers, Yang's book should be an essential part
of any immigration, Asian American, California, and/or patriotism unit and
a treasure for home and public libraries. Ages 4-up. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

THE MAGIC HORSE OF HAN GAN by Chen Jiang Hong (Enchanted Lion, 2006)(originally published in French as Le Cheval magique de Han Gan (2004)). A look into the life of painter Han Gan, who lived in China 1,200 ears ago, that incorporates a legend about one of the horses in his paintings coming to life. It's always a high burden to offer art reflecting a great artist, but Hong more than succeeds. Magical, indeed, with an underlying theme of the relationship between art and peace. Ages 6-up.

THE MAGIC PAINTBRUSH by Laurence Yep (HarperCollins,
2000). This historical novel centers on young Steve, Grandfather,
and a friend of the family, Uncle Fong. After the tragic death of his parents,
Steve comes to live in Chinatown with his poor Grandfather, who seems emotionally
distant. When Grandfather gives Steve a magic paintbrush, suddenly they
can paint their desires into reality. Probably my favorite book by Yep.
Characterization is particularly wonderful. Ages 9-up.

MEI-MEI LOVES
THE MORNING by Margaret Holloway Tsubakiyama, illustrated by Cornelius Van
Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu (Whitman, 1999). Illustrated in beautiful
watercolors, this book is a slice-of-life celebration of the loving relationship
between Mei-Mei and her grandfather. Ages 4-up.

MILLICENT MIN, GIRL GENIUS by Lisa Yee (Arthur
Levine, 2003). Millicent Min is (1) just about the enter her senior
year in high school, (2) has no friends, and (3) is resented by other
kids because she sets the grading curve. She's also eleven, which might
have something to do with at least (1) and (3). Because of (2), Millie's
parents sign her up for summer volleyball and make her tutor her mortal
enemy... A dry, funny first novel. Ages 9-up. Don't miss the companion
book, STANFORD
WONG FLUNKS BIG TIME (Arthur Levine, 2005). Read more about these
titles on Cynsations.

AN
OCEAN APART, A WORLD AWAY by Lensey Namioka (Delacorte, 2002). Xueyan,
called Yanyan, is an excellent student at her missionary school in 1911
China, and she wants to study medicine. Yet it's an unusual occupation for
a woman of her day, even one with no interest in marriage like Yanyan. Will
karate-expert and scholar Baoshu change her mind or will Yanyan find her
place and excel in her studies in another country, America? Companion book
to TIES THAT BIND, TIES THAT BREAK. The new
title is even more engaging. Ages 12-up.

OUR BABY FROM CHINA: AN ADOPTION STORY by Nancy
D'Antonio (Whitman, 1997). A photoessay of the author and her husband's
journey to China to adopt their beautiful daughter, Ariela Xiangwei. Ages
4-up.

SAM AND THE LUCKY
MONEY by Karen Chinn, illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu
(Lee & Low, 1995). Sam is all ready to spend his money in Chinatown.
But maybe buying a thing isn't the best way to use it. A celebration of
giving. Amazing watercolor illustrations. Ages 4-up.

SIX
WORDS, MANY TURTLES, AND THREE DAYS IN HONG KONG by Patricia McMahon with
photographs by Susan G. Drinker (Houghton Mifflin, 1997). This well-written
non-fiction account is illustrated in storytelling photographs that convey
personality. It chronicles the daily life of Tsz Yan, an eight-year-old
Chinese girl living in contemporary Hong Kong. Sensitive, humorous, and
stereotype shattering. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Ages 8-up.

SPLIT
IMAGE: A STORY IN POEMS by Mel Glenn (HarperCollins, 2000). Laura
Li is a different person to her ashamed mother to her motherly librarian,
to her distant father, her friends, the bartender, her rivals, the boys
at school. In alternating diverse and compelling voices, Glenn offers another
first-rate verse novel to teens. Ages 12-up.

THIEF OF HEARTS by
Laurence Yep (HarperCollins, 1995). In this sequel to CHILD OF THE
OWL (1977), Stacy is called a "half-breed," and both her loyalties and identity
are challenged when Hong Ch'un moves from China to Stacy's suburban California
school. When Hong Ch'un is accused of stealing, Stacy is forced to carefully
consider her own reaction and find out what has really happened. Much of
this novel centers around Stacy's struggle to reconcile her Chinese and
white American heritage and related communities. Ages 8-up.

WANDERING WARRIOR by Da Chen (Delcorte, 2003). Enter another world, the world of ancient China where it is decreed in the
scriptures that the future emperor will have five moles on the bottom of
each foot. Watch as eleven-year-old orphaned Luka searches for his destiny
on those very feet and see him meet mythological creatures and magical beings.
You won't be tempted to turn back. This skillful writer takes the reader
on a spiritual journey with Luka, one the reader doesn't want to end. Ages
12-up. Review by Frances
Hill.

Learn More

Don't Miss

The HANNAH WEST series by Linda Johns (Puffin, 2006-) features a young Chinese American girl detective who solves cases as she moves with her house-sitter mother from one Seattle neighborhood to another. Hannah is internationally and transracially adopted. Ages 9-up.

Author Laurence Yep has written many excellent books with Chinese and Chinese
American themes for children (among others) — only a couple of which
are mentioned on this page. Please seek them out at your book stores and
libraries.

Spotlight

Miranda, one of the co-protagonists of ETERNAL by Cynthia Leitich Smith, is Chinese-Scottish American.

Quotables

"A lot of my books deal with Chinese culture because, in a way, I'm trying to find the culture I lost. When I was younger, I was ashamed or sometimes even angry about being Chinese. Most of the time I forgot that I was Chinese. Sometimes I would see myself in the mirror and be surprised to see a Chinese girl looking back at me.

"It's only now, after becoming an adult and I realized that there was something I lost, ignoring these parts of my heritage. There were a lot of things that we did, traditions like eating ginger soup at a baby shower, which I never bothered to learn more about. So now, I research these kinds of things about my heritage. I'm making the books I missed when I was younger."